Isn't it telling that one of our best present day rebuilders, Dale Erwin, is
letting us know that he does not feel he would be where he is today without
the influence and wisdom of Willis Snyder? And my guess is that Willis left
that great lasting impression on so very many who have "turned out well".
But Dale, how could you talk about Willis' bow tie and leave out the tuxedo
that he so often wore to these conventions?
I always attended Willis and David's classes whenever I could. I gained an
immense amount of knowledge from them, but I think the greatest influence
Willis had on me was to leave a deep impression of what it means to be a
real piano "craftsman" - how important it was, and why it should be so much
of who we are. And to begin to reach for things that seemed far from my
grasp as a piano technician at that time. There simply was an
uncompromising integrity to his work and person.
The older I get, the more I am struck by the quality of company I have been
able to keep as a piano technician and rebuilder. To have had the
opportunity to have met Willis and experienced his person and knowledge I
consider a privilege and a blessing.
My humble thanks to you Willis, wherever you are.
Will Truitt
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of erwinspiano at aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 9:28 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Willis Snyder
Dear Colleagues
I too have benefited from the Wisdom Of Willis & son David. It was at a
pivotal point in my life in the mid 80s I again attended there class.I never
missed there class.
They were/are first class techs & first class Human beings. Generously
sharing their vast experience. They were on the cutting edge when nobody
knew what it was. They made me realize what was possible & Willis adorned
with that snazzy bow tie, struttin around so elegantly, made it all
enormously attractive. He humbly & seriously said they worked along time to
get the reputation they had & he underscored that. He said it wasn't until
they did the Dupont piano that their name really took off. I always reember
fondly of WIllis saying with a big smile how priveledged he was to tune
pianos & drive his ( I think it was a Cadillac) with the top down to his
clients house.
But the parting statement I will never forget by Willis that day has
changed my life & I will always be grateful to Him for it. It was a Light
bulb revelational moment when he said Gentleman....Aim for the high end!....
And that has made all the difference
All my Respect to the family & to his his memory
Kindest regards
Dale Erwin
Willis Snyder,
One of the Great Ones of the Great Ones. A delightful, kind man who shared
many things to all of us. I was in his rebuilding class when he received
"The Call from the White House" to rebuild one of their pianos--and he came
back and taught us to be better rebuilders. And when I started my study of
how our work might impact our hearing, he came to me and offered to take the
hearing test so we could have the data from one of the oldest members in the
PTG. I will never forget his kindness--or his wonderful smile!
Diane
[pianotech] Willis Snyder
KeyKat88 at aol.com KeyKat88 at aol.com
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_____
Greetings,
Willis Snyder was having bone frailness issues and a collapsed
spinal bone problem around October or so. He was on Boniva.
He fell a few weeks ago or so, hurt his head, and was battling
with that and the bone issues. He passed away a day or so ago.
For anyone locally, the viewing is Tuesday from 6-8 at the Lamm
&
Wittman Funeral Home, 243 W Penn Ave, Wernersville, PA,. However the prayer
service is private and will be for the immediate family only.
I WILL MISS YOU, MR. SNYDER!!! YOU WERE SO COOL !.... THE GREATEST!!
Julia Gottshall
Reading, PA
Diane Hofstetter
=
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